A new GPS-powered device, known as Safe2Walk, will help family members keep track of their dementia-suffering relatives.
The new device, designed by Alzheimer’s Australia WA, is about the size of a mobile phone and can be worn on a lanyard around the neck or clipped to a belt. If the wearer finds themselves lost or in need of help, they can press the button on the device, which will then send out their last-known position as a ‘panic alert’ via SMS and email.
The device is also a mobile phone, and can be programmed with three different phone numbers, to better guarantee contact. It will call each one in turn, hanging up and trying the next number if not answered within 6 rings. It can also be phoned if a carer wants to contact the wearer, and includes a web interface that the carer can access to check where the wearer is, without disturbing them.
It is targeted towards those with early onset dementia, and aims to help them maintain their independence for as long as possible, while also reducing the cost of police searches for lost or disoriented people with dementia. It costs around $2 a day, but disadvantaged families in NSW may be eligible for a free device.
For more information visit http://www.safe2walk.com.au/ or phone 1800 100 500.
